A Stakeholder-Based Assessment of the Opportunities and Hurdles to the Development of the Icelandic Green Hydrogen Economy

Abstract

Green hydrogen is attributed with the potential to not only decarbonize multiple hard-to-decarbonize energy sectors but also to facilitate the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources in the energy systems. Abundantly available renewable energy and the mostly decarbonized electricity system contribute to the prospects of green hydrogen production in Iceland. The first green hydrogen production was launched in 2003 alongside the use of hydrogen as a fuel for transport. Despite the launch of several demonstration projects, the hydrogen economy has not yet delivered on its promises. It is important to understand the current state of the Icelandic green hydrogen economy, as it enables active and targeted contributions to its development. Moreover, the findings can at least partially be transferred to other cases when a new technology is introduced into an ecosystem lacking the required support infrastructure. The objective of this research is to assess the Icelandic green hydrogen economy’s current state of development. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 stakeholders of the Icelandic green hydrogen economy. Grounded theory guided the research process and content analysis was used to reveal the stakeholders' perspectives on the green hydrogen economy. The results of the interview analysis show that decarbonization and economic opportunities motivate stakeholders to engage in the Icelandic green hydrogen economy. Additionally, its further development is associated with strengthening energy security in Iceland. The development of the Icelandic green hydrogen economy however is reported to be inhibited by technological, economic, and governance hurdles. Interviewees suggested a set of measures to overcome the hurdles and accelerate the development of the Icelandic green hydrogen economy. These measures aim at building confidence among the stakeholders, financially incentivizing investments in hydrogen technology, and overcoming the lack of hydrogen demand by producing hydrogen-based chemicals. The findings mostly confirm available literature on the issue but point out aspects that are specific to Iceland. This research captures current themes relevant to stakeholders of the Icelandic green hydrogen economy and can serve as a basis for decision-making for organizations and policymakers addressing the Icelandic green hydrogen economy.